On June 1, we celebrate the birthday of the quintessential American sex symbol, Marilyn Monroe.

Born Norma Jeane Mortenson (later changed to Baker) in Los Angeles in 1926, Marilyn Monroe bounced around to many different foster homes throughout her entire childhood. As an adult, she began modeling and changed her name to Marilyn Monroe in hopes of having an acting career.

Marilyn Monroe went on to be named Film’s Sexiest Woman of All Time by TV Guide and was ranked the sixth greatest female star of all time by the American Film Institute in 1999. Some of her most popular movies include Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Some Like it Hot, and The Seven Year Itch. She died of a barbiturate overdose on August 5, 1962 at the age of 36.